Kinetic Model of TiN Particle Dissolution and Coarsening during Welding Thermal Cycle

With carbon extraction replica technique, electron diffraction and EDAX analysis, second particle size distribution in two Ti microalloyed steels and their heat-affected zones were investigated. The results show that the particles in the Ti microalloyed steels are TiN particles, and the TiN particles in the steel with lower Ti/N ratio exhibit smaller size and lower dissolution and coarsening rate and extent. Based on the investigation results, kinetic models for TiN particle dissolution and coarsening during welding thermal cycle were developed. The predicted values calculated by using the models are in good agreement with the experimental ones.